Hearts midfielder Ageu’s Conference League involvement hopes dashed by setback

Hearts’ record signing Ageu has had his hopes of Conference League involvement dashed by yet another injury setback.

After making his first start since February in Saturday’s 5-0 win over St Mirren, the Brazilian midfielder was set to be added to the Jambos’ European squad as a late replacement for the recently-injured Blair Spittal.

But boss Wouter Vrancken revealed on the eve of Thursday’s league phase opener at home to Danish side Nordsjaelland that Ageu, who has been restricted to just two starts in total since arriving in August last year, is facing another lay-off after sustaining a new muscle injury in training on Tuesday.

“It’s a pity for him and for the team and for us in general, because he showed his qualities on Saturday,” said Vrancken.

“Also after the game he felt good. Two days after we talked and he was explaining how good he felt and how eager he was to play the games in Europe. It’s a blow for him, but again you have to cope with it.

“But when you’ve been injured for such a long time, then it’s always step by step coming back and we have to accept and cope with those little things, so let’s hope that he’s fit and well really soon.

“He will be out longer than this weekend, we’ll see week by week.

“With muscles, it’s always difficult to say. We will for sure be protective and not push him too hard.

“He has to do his rehab again and work for what’s coming and stay in a positive mindset. It’s the only way you get back the fastest.”

Defender Malachi Fagan-Walcott, who has also just returned from injury, has been added to the European squad instead, so the versatile Oisin McEntee, who had been earmarked to play at centre-back, can now provide an option in midfield.

“We just managed to hold off (submitting the paperwork), so it’s Malachi instead of Ageu,” said Vrancken, also missing suspended midfielder Tomas Magnusson on Thursday.

“With Oisin we can move him around a bit, and Calvin (Miller) can move around a bit.

“We know already when we lost Spitts and Tom (Renaud) that we’d be thin on this position but we’ve managed to do it (without them) until now, so we’ll do it tomorrow.”

Hearts face Nordsjaelland, Monaco and Borac at Tynecastle, with trips to Trabzonspor, Pafos and Thun.

Vrancken believes his team, who defeated Rapid Vienna in the play-off round, are equipped to compete for a place in the Conference League knockout phase.

“When you compete in any competition, it’s not only to be there,” he said. “You have to want to succeed, to gain something, to aim for something.

“The games will tell if it’s possible or not, but it’s always the aim to go to the next round.

“It will be a big challenge, but we have to show ourselves and believe in the things we do and try to get through.”